The gargantuan haul for The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2, which sees Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson star as Bella Cullen (née Swan) and her bloodsucking love Edward for the final time, also achieved the eighth highest opening in box office history. It was particularly successful outside the US, where it picked up almost $200m in 61 countries. Bill Condon's film took a slightly lower total in North America, $141.3m, than predecessor New Moon managed in 2009.

Despite its large take, Breaking Dawn – Part 2 has some way to go before it can challenge 2012's most successful films at the box office. The Avengers leads with $1.51bn and final Christopher Nolan Batman instalment The Dark Knight Rises is in second spot with $1.08bn.

Based on the series of four young-adult novels by Stephenie Meyer, the Twilight series of five films was supposed to end with Breaking Dawn – Part 2. However, executives at studio Lionsgate have hinted at the possibility of future films set in the same universe, in order to continue what has become a hugely lucrative $2.8bn box office cash cow for Hollywood.

The final film sees vampire-turned Bella and her husband Edward vying to protect their half-vampire child Renesmee from the attentions of a nefarious vampire clan who may wish to do her harm. It has garnered some of the best reviews so far for what has largely been a critically derided series.